1. Role Purpose

The Loan Officer is responsible for growing and managing a high-quality loan portfolio for Elim Finance Limited. This includes sourcing and onboarding clients, conducting credit assessments, ensuring complete and accurate documentation, monitoring repayments, and maintaining strong portfolio quality and customer relationships.

The role directly contributes to the company’s revenue growth, risk management, and client satisfaction.

2. Key Responsibilities

2.1. Business Development & Client Acquisition

Identify, prospect, and onboard potential clients, with a focus on:

• Salaried employees (high-income employees).
• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Conduct field marketing activities, employer visits, and merchant visits (for BNPL / point-of-sale finance).

Explain loan products, terms, pricing, and requirements clearly to potential clients.

Achieve agreed monthly targets for:

• Number of new clients; and
• Total value of loans disbursed.

2.2. Loan Application & Credit Appraisal

Conduct interviews with clients to gather information on:

• Loan purpose, income sources, expenses, and existing debts.
• Collect, verify, and validate required documentation including (as applicable):

National ID, payslips, employment confirmation, bank statements, business registration documents, and any collateral documents.

Perform preliminary credit assessment, including:

• Bank statements’ analysis
• Collateral assessment and valuation
• Review of Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) reports and internal credit history.
• Affordability analysis and Debt Service Ratio (DSR) calculation.

Complete and submit:

• Loan Application Form.
• Proposed loan terms (amount, interest rate, tenure, installment, security).
• PPSR registration of collateral items.

Present credit applications to the Branch Manager / Credit Manager / Credit Committee as per lending policy.

2.3. Documentation & Disbursement Support

Ensure all loan documents are properly completed, signed, and filed, including:

• Loan Agreement;
• Promissory Note;
• Repayment Schedule;
• Disbursement Voucher; and
• Any collateral or guarantee documents.

Ensure that all fees and charges (e.g. processing fees, insurance, etc.) are correctly calculated and disclosed to the client.

Confirm that the client fully understands:

• The repayment schedule, interest charges, penalties for late payment, and consequences of default.

Coordinate with finance/operations staff to ensure accurate and timely loan disbursement, whether to the client or directly to a merchant (for BNPL).

2.4. Portfolio Monitoring & Collections

Maintain an up-to-date loan portfolio under their responsibility.

Monitor due dates and repayment behavior on a daily/weekly basis.

Conduct proactive reminder calls and messages to clients before and immediately after due dates.

Follow up on overdue accounts through:

• Phone calls;
• SMS/WhatsApp reminders; and
• Field visits, where necessary.

Negotiate and document repayment arrangements with clients in arrears, within company policy.

Escalate delinquent or problematic accounts to the Branch Manager / Collections Team for further action.

Aim to maintain portfolio quality within set thresholds, including:

• Portfolio at Risk (PAR) within acceptable limits; and
• Default rate within the approved annual target.

2.5. Customer Service & Relationship Management

Provide courteous, professional, and timely service to all clients.

Educate clients on responsible borrowing, repayment discipline, and how to improve their eligibility for future loans.

Handle client concerns and complaints in line with the company’s Complaint Handling Procedure and escalate where necessary.

Maintain regular contact with key clients to:

• Encourage repeat business; and
• Promote referral programs, where applicable.

2.6. Reporting & Compliance

Prepare and submit periodic reports (daily, weekly, and monthly) on:

• New applications and approvals;
• Disbursements;
• Portfolio size and structure;
• Arrears and collections actions taken.

Ensure full compliance with:

• Internal lending policies and procedures;
• Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti–Money Laundering (AML) requirements; and
• Applicable regulatory and legal requirements.

Maintain accurate and confidential client records in the Loan Management System (LMS) and physical files.

3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Loan Officer’s performance will be assessed using, but not limited to, the following indicators:

• Portfolio Growth
  • Total value of loans disbursed per month.
  • Number of active borrowing clients.
• Portfolio Quality
  • Portfolio at Risk (PAR) > 30 days.
  • Annual default rate vs target.
• Collections Performance
  • On-time repayment rate.
  • Recovery rate on overdue amounts.
• Productivity
  • Number of applications sourced per month.
  • Approval and disbursement conversion rates.
• Customer Service
  • Number and nature of client complaints.
  • Client retention and referrals generated.

4. Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

Minimum Qualifications

• Diploma in Finance, Banking, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.

Experience

• Previous experience in sales or accounting or any similar roles
• previous experience as a loan officer

Technical Skills

Basic understanding of:

• Lending principles (interest, reducing balance, installments);
• Reading and interpreting payslips, bank statements, and basic financial information.
• Collateral valuation skills

Computer literacy:

• Ability to use Microsoft Office or Google Workspace (especially Excel/Sheets, Word/Docs).
• Willingness to learn and use the Loan Management System (LMS).

Core Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good numerical and analytical ability.
• High level of integrity, honesty, and confidentiality.
• Results-oriented and able to meet targets.
• Comfortable with fieldwork and client visits.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks.

5. Working Conditions

Based at the branch / head office in Blantyre with frequent field visits within the catchment area.

May be required to work extended hours, including some weekends, during busy periods or special marketing campaigns.

Compensation package includes a basic salary plus performance-based incentives, as per the company’s incentive policy.

• Growing and managing a high-quality loan portfolio.
• Sourcing and onboarding clients.
• Conducting credit assessments.
• Ensuring complete and accurate documentation.
• Monitoring repayments.
• Maintaining strong portfolio quality and customer relationships.
• Identifying, prospecting, and onboarding potential clients (salaried employees and SMEs).
• Conducting field marketing activities, employer visits, and merchant visits.
• Explaining loan products, terms, pricing, and requirements.
• Achieving monthly targets for new clients and loan disbursements.
• Conducting client interviews to gather loan purpose, income, expenses, and debt information.
• Collecting, verifying, and validating required documentation.
• Performing preliminary credit assessment, including bank statement analysis, collateral assessment, CRB report review, and affordability analysis.
• Completing and submitting Loan Application Forms, proposed loan terms, and PPSR registration.
• Presenting credit applications to management.
• Ensuring all loan documents are properly completed, signed, and filed.
• Ensuring correct calculation and disclosure of fees and charges.
• Confirming client understanding of repayment schedules, interest, penalties, and consequences of default.
• Coordinating with finance/operations for accurate and timely loan disbursement.
• Maintaining an up-to-date loan portfolio.
• Monitoring due dates and repayment behavior.
• Conducting proactive reminder calls and messages.
• Following up on overdue accounts via phone, SMS/WhatsApp, and field visits.
• Negotiating and documenting repayment arrangements with clients in arrears.
• Escalating delinquent or problematic accounts.
• Maintaining portfolio quality within set thresholds (PAR and default rate).
• Providing courteous, professional, and timely service to clients.
• Educating clients on responsible borrowing and repayment discipline.
• Handling client concerns and complaints.
• Maintaining regular contact with key clients to encourage repeat business and referrals.
• Preparing and submitting periodic reports on applications, disbursements, portfolio, and collections.
• Ensuring compliance with internal policies, KYC/AML requirements, and legal regulations.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential client records in the Loan Management System (LMS) and physical files.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good numerical and analytical ability.
• High level of integrity, honesty, and confidentiality.
• Results-oriented and able to meet targets.
• Comfortable with fieldwork and client visits.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks.
• Basic understanding of lending principles.
• Ability to read and interpret payslips, bank statements, and basic financial information.
• Collateral valuation skills.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office/Google Workspace).
• Willingness to learn and use the Loan Management System (LMS).

• Diploma in Finance, Banking, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Previous experience in sales or accounting or any similar roles.
• Previous experience as a loan officer.